Calculate the APGAR score: Pink body, HR 120, Cough/Sneeze, Active movement, Crying.

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

The APGAR score is a rapid assessment of a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Each of the five signs (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) is scored from 0 to 2.
In this case, all signs indicate optimal function: 'Pink body' (2), 'HR 120' (>100 bpm) (2), 'Cough/Sneeze' (2), 'Active movement' (2), and 'Crying' (2).
The sum of these scores (2+2+2+2+2) equals 10, indicating the newborn is in excellent condition.

Option A: A score of 5 would indicate moderate depression, with several signs scoring 1 or 0. The described signs are all indicative of a score of 2 for each category.
Option C: A score of 8 would mean one of the five signs scored 0, or two signs scored 1. All signs provided correspond to a score of 2.
Option D: A score of 7 indicates mild depression. This would require one sign to be scored at 0 and another at 1, or three signs to be scored at 1. The signs given are all optimal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain APGAR Scoring as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The APGAR score provides a quick, standardized assessment of the newborn's transition to extrauterine life. It is not used to guide resuscitation but to assess the response to it.
A low 5-minute APGAR score (<7) is a critical indicator for continued observation and potential intervention. Scores are repeated every 5 minutes for up to 20 minutes if the score remains low.
Nurses play a key role in accurately and quickly assessing the APGAR score, as it provides vital information to the entire healthcare team about the newborn's status.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the five components of the APGAR score: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.
Next, read the clinical signs provided in the question for the newborn.
Assign a score of 0, 1, or 2 to each of the five components based on the standard APGAR scoring criteria.
For this question: 'Pink body' = 2, 'HR 120' = 2, 'Cough/Sneeze' = 2, 'Active movement' = 2, 'Crying' = 2.
Sum the scores for all five components to get the total APGAR score.
Finally, select the option that matches your calculated total score.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: APGAR Scoring
Stem keywords: APGAR score, Pink body, HR 120, Cough/Sneeze, Active movement, Crying
Lead-in keywords: Calculate

Qt8RcqBoI2bE5B974ukN6p

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) pp. 118-120, 119-121

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 3

Practise the full DSSSB 12 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.